Labour migration from Viet Nam: Issues and policy and practice, ‎pdf ...

10 Dang Nguyen Anh
Taiwan (China), a major destination for Viet Nam, witnessed a similar situation. In 2003,
twenty Vietnamese laborers working in a cruiser boat named “China Sea Discovery” had
been abandoned and their salaries were not paid for months. These laborers had to call
MOLISA for financial assistance for them to return to Viet Nam (see VNExpress, Feb 2,
2004). Another study reported that Vietnamese workers in the Republic of Korea were
required to work intensively, for 8-10 hours a day, five and a half days a week. Although
overtime hours were recorded, it was so complicated that the workers did not know clearly
how their overtime pays were calculated and converted into salaries (Pairaudeau, 1997).
Language barrier is one of the major causes that deteriorate the relationship between
migrant workers and their employers. The workers cannot understand the instructions or
guidance from their managers or supervisors properly. They also cannot explain or defend
when things are not going the right way.
Due to long working hours, burden of intensive labour, hard working conditions, lack of
occupational safety equipment, migrant workers are easily prone to get sick. Living in
different weathers of the East Asian countries (Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, China)
where “summer is too hot and winter is too cold” or even in Malaysia where the climate is
warm, the workers do not do well and may suffer from headaches or cold flues. Numerous
cases have been reported attesting to the many socio-psychological problems and traumas
confronting migrant workers. These have been reported as loneliness, anxiety,
discrimination, exploitation, and physical abuse, among others (APMRN, 2004).
Contract breach and runaway
The second problem in destination countries in relation to labour export is the desertion of
workers. This seems most alarming in Japan, Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China). On
average, the “missing” ratio of Vietnamese workers in Japan, Republic of Korea and
Taiwan (China) have been reported as 27-30%, 20-25% and 9-12%, respectively of the
total number of Vietnamese laborers deployed in these countries (MTUC, 2005; APMRN,
2004; VNExpress Jan 5, 2005). It should be recognized that some workers have borrowed
money to pay high commissions and fee to be selected to go to these countries. They are
under pressure to earn more than they can legally do to pay the debts. On the other hand,